I always give my quilts with a note to please use them and most people do. My soon to be son in law has has packed his away because he feels it is a heirloom because it is hand made. I would rather he used it but it was given as a gift and he can do as he wants with it. SIGH

My wife wants to save the quilts that I have made her and treat them with special care not to have the dogs sleep on them or jump up on them. I keep telling her that I made that one I can always make another one. I like for mine to be used and loved at the same time and not stuffed into a closet to be saved.

I also put together a 'story of your quilt' when I give one as a gift - with photos as it was going together, why I selected the pattern or what it means to me. Along with washing information, etc. It does give me an opportunity to put into words how the gift is intended to help give comfort whenever they may need it ...

My last quilt, I titled 'Tame the Wild Things' - a giraffe quilt - for a friend having a really tough time with depression, dealing with her own demons; she has the wry wit to understand I meant this to help her tame her demons.

I do like the idea of including the time it took you to put it together on the label!

I never expect the quilts I give to not be used. However, I do feel people can or cannot show gratitude for them by how they use them. I really do enjoy making and giving to others and I'm sure most people appreciate it, but how about a Thank You card for that special gift? Is that not worthy for all the time and money? I just wonder if it is a thing of the past.

I usually send a story with my quilts too, but when I see it later in the bottom of a trunk with a dirty tire laying on it, it ticks me off after all the time/effort/money that goes into one, some just do not appreciate or understand what goes into making a quilt, especially if it is a nice pattern or lots of applique'; I still think they need to be 'quilt worthy' before receiving one; if it's a child and they lie one it, sleep with it, tinkle on it, not a problem, at least it's being used and enjoyed, which is why you gave it to them, but when it's dirty, covered with mud, laying in the trunk and not taken care of, they won't get another one...

I think that valuing a quilt has to do with upbringing. I gave my neice a quilt for her wedding this summer. She was SO appreciative. Her brother came to our place for Thanksgiving and joked it was to "butter me up" for a quilt of his own someday. It has to do with being taught appreciation by my sister.

I never gave a quilt to my first DIL because I knew she didn't value such things. When they divorced my son got the wool quilt from an Aunt because HE valued it.

I won't even consider giving a quilt to someone without knowing their appreciation level. My son's best friend got one of my quilts. Even tho his mom didnn't sew or quilt, he had watched me through his youth making them and knew that this was just not any ole' gift.

I have found, in my three short years of quilting, that not every quilt I have given is valued like I would value it. Some people appreciate my time, effort, and money, that I put into the special quilt they have received. While this is true, I have known others who treat my quilt, given as a gift, as though I had given them a blanket. No thought of returning a Thank You card seems to annoy me the most. Is this typical for quilters who give gifts?

If you value the quilt too much that you "can't let it go" then keep it until you make something that you like better. The key is being able to "let it go". Once you give it away it is no longer yours.